Economics

17:11, 24.01.2008 | Russia

Issues of economic and political cooperation were discussed on Tuesday at a meeting between New Zealand premier Helen Clark and speaker of the Russian Federation Council upper chamber Sergei Mironov, staying in this country on an official visit.



“The potential of our cooperation is far from exhausted: the annual trade of 108 million US dollars is under our potentialities,” Mironov said at the meeting.



The speaker noted that he called attention of the New Zealand premier to two major Russian infrastructure projects: preparation of the APEC summit in Vladivostok and the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.



According to Mironov, Clark displayed great interest in the coming presidential elections in Russia. Mironov noted at the meeting: “If Dmitry Medvedev is elected head of state, this will mean consistency of Russia’s course, including in the foreign policy, predictability of this course and stability in Russia’s steady development.”



The sides also discussed prospects for the development of tourism between the two countries and questions of cultural exchange. “We examined possible cooperation in the sphere of cinematography,” Mironov noted. However, he avoided saying what projects were discussed.



“I hoped initially for a purely protocol meeting. The more so, since it coincided with the Tuesday unprecedented farewell ceremony with the world’s famous Alpine climber, Sir Edmund Hillary,” he explained. However, according to Mironov, “the meeting outstretched the time, provided for by the protocol, since the prime minister displayed great interest in questions under discussion”.



Mironov also participated on Tuesday in the farewell ceremony with the Everest first conqueror who was seen off to his final rest by all New Zealand. Hillary was the most famous New Zealander in the world. “His fellow countrymen regarded him as Russians – Gagarin,” Mironov continued.



During the three incomplete days of his visit, the speaker participated in the 16th session of the parliamentary forum of Asia-Pacific countries, held talks with the delegation leaders of China, Mongolia and Chile. Besides, he had meetings with New Zealand Governor-General Anand Satyanand, parliament speaker Margaret Wilson, Auckland Mayor Banks, members of the New Zealand business community and higher school.



On January 23, the Federation Council delegation, led by Mironov, flies to the Philippines on an official visit.



-Itar-TAAS